[Diuretics are an integral part of the management of chronic heart failure. Although there are no large, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicentric studies available to show that loop- and thiazid diuretics improve survival, the efficacy of these drugs in relieving heart failure symptoms and fluid retention is indisputable. The third class of diuretics used in heart failure is aldosterone antagonists, whose beneficial effects on mortality and morbidity were demonstrated in the RALES and EPHESUS trials. In this paper, the effects and side effects of the various diuretics, as well as the indications and recommendations on their use are reviewed. New options in diuretic treatment, including adenosine receptor blockers, vasopressin antagonists, atrial natriuretic peptide analogues and ultrafiltration are also presented.]

[INTRODUCTION - Adverse effects of treatment for chronic C virus hepatitis present an important problem both for the patient and the clinician. The reduction of drug doses or the suspension of therapy lessen the likelihood of recovery. PATIENTS, METHODS - Between 2001 and 2004, 66 patients with chronic hepatitis C received 180 μg pegylated interferon-alpha-2a per week and 800-1200 mg ribavirin per day, 6 of whom for 24 weeks and 60 patients for 48 weeks. During treatment, patients were closely followed in order to recognize any adverse effects early. RESULTS - Of the patients treated for 48 weeks, 48.3% developed adverse effects, with changes in the differential in 41.7%, and anaemia, low platelet count, neutropenia in similar rates. Further side effects included cardiac complications, skin symptoms, persisting high fever, autoimmune thyroiditis and liver failure, altogether in 9 cases. Dose reduction or temporary suspension of pegylated interferon-alpha-2a was necessary in 21 cases (31.7%), while complete cessation of this treatment was decided in 7 cases, most of them because of blood count changes. The 1000 to 1200 mg per day ribavirin had to be reduced in 30.8% of patients, while treatment was stopped in 3 cases. Long-term virological remission occurred in 48% of patients who received treatment for 48 weeks, whereas no such result was observed among any of those treated for 24 weeks. CONCLUSION - Adverse effects of variable severity developed in nearly half of the patients with chronic hepatitis C infection who received antiviral treatment for 48 weeks, but treatment had to be stopped in only a small proportion of this group. Early treatment of adverse effects can prevent the need to cease therapy and may improve its efficiency.]

[The beneficial effects of treatment with betablockers in patients with chronic heart failure have been demonstrated in several large, prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trials. In large trials with mortality as the endpoint, the long-term use of bisoprolol, carvedilol, nevibolol and metoprolol succinate have been associated with a reduction in total mortality, cardiovascular mortality, sudden cardiac death and death due to progression of heart failure in patients of functional classes II-IV. These favorable clinical experiences warrant a recommendation that beta-blockers should be used in all haemodynamically stable heart failure patients with reduced left ventricular systolic function who are on standard treatment, unless contraindicated. In this review, the most important data of clinical trials and practical considerations of therapy with beta-blockers in heart failure are summarized.]